First want to say hello to all and thanks for taking the time to read this.

Well a couple of weeks ago a purchased a 1987 4 banger Dodge Raider just for the sole purpose to turn it into my ice fishing machine. ItÆs great it can carry all my gear and my kids to my fav spots. I was thinking originally that in the spring I will just sell it and use the money to buy a little boat but after a few weeks with this little raider I am starting to feel that I wonÆt want to get rid of it at all. But IÆm having one little issue with it and it has happened a few times but yesterday it left me stranded about 20 KmÆs away from home.!! Once and a while the oil pressure meter shows at 0 and the engine is just pinging loud . usually I just waited few min and restart the truck and drive a few feet and its fine then meter reads good and no pinging . Yesterday ready to go home it happened again but this time I could not get it to kick in , so I had to get my ass towed home . once the raider was in the drive way I started it up to put in the garage and the meter was reading fine and no pinging . So id like to hear any thoughts on what to check or do next . I was thinking that it was maybe the cold so I parked it outside for a few hours and it was fine still. I took it out again today "same lake" it was fine all day.

Thank you
Ice Raider

Welcome,I recommend towing a wrecker to your favorite fishing hole <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

Well, that's a fine response! I guess I've done the same. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Ice Raider, welcome to 4x4wire's Mitsu board!

I would suggest first checking to see if the timing chain is loose. There is a small inspection cover near the water pump that is held by a single bolt (10mm head). The timing chain can be felt within this cover. The reason that I suggest this is that the secondary timing chain is responsible for the oil pump drive. If the primary chain is loose, so is the secondary chain...and it may be skipping on the pump drive gear.

Russell <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Wow thank Russell for the fast reply and I will look at that soon then. Hey If that chain is loose i'm I screwd??

It's a fairly easy fix. Once the sprockets start to wear, you have to tear into it.